Is Demon Possession Real? Matthew 12:43-45

Matthew 12:43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

In the context Jesus is referring to the Pharisees rejection of him.  He uses the illustration of demon possession to show the seriousness of their rejection of him.  The Pharisees were looking for a Messiah of their own making. One that would be a political and military Messiah.  One of the consequences of the leaders' rejection of Jesus was in A.D. 70 the temple was destroyed. Since they took God out of the temple, there was nothing to protect it.   

But the fact that Jesus uses an example of demon possession (an impure spirit comes out of a person assumes he was in the person), illustrates that demon possession is real.  If it wasn't, he wouldn't have used it.  

"Yet the use of the illustration shows us some interesting principles of demon possession, and shows us that Jesus regarded it as a real phenomenon and not just a contemporary superstition. “If there had been no reality in demoniacal possessions, our Lord would have scarcely appealed to a case of this kind here, to point out the real state of the Jewish people, and the desolation which was coming upon them.”(Clarke)

Generally the idea of demon possession in the church has gone in one of two directions. 

1. The church has relegated demon possession only in the time that Jesus was on the earth. Or, only in the apostolic era (1st century).  Later on in the 20th century, the liberal, rationalistic, Protestant movement dismissed all the supernatural occurences in the bible including evil spirits.   

2. The glamorization and glorifcation of demon possession in movies Hollywood has produced like "The Exorcist".  The relegates demon possession to movies and something the church really never addresses.

If you don't believe demon possession is real and doesn't happen today read this article.  The reason I am sharing it is even science is not recognizing the reality of demon possession.  

https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/health/exorcism-doctor/index.html

I believe there is a healthy biblical view of spiritual warfare and demon possession.  

1. It is real.  After all there is no reason Satan would not be as much on the prowl today looking to inhabit a human host as he was in the first century.  Are the stakes any lower in our century as the 1st.  Satan has a limited time to do his work so he may be even more be on high alert now. 

2. Christians have the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we don't have to be afraid to confront spiritual forces of darkness. 

3. Christians can't be possessed by a demon, because we are possessed by the Holy Spirit.  

Read Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul describes the "Armor of God" in detail.  I.e. The weapons God has given Christian to fight the spiritual battle we are surely in.  I am glad you are in God's word right now, because the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  The only offensive weapon Paul describes in the passage.  

 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 

The house refers to a human host. 

"I will return to my house: “The foul fiend calls the man, ‘My house.’ His audacity is amazing. He did not build or buy that house, and he has no right to it.”A demon can only inhabit someone if he finds it empty – that is, without the indwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ. If it is empty, it does not matter to the demon if it is also swept, and put in order. “The devil has no objection to his house being swept and garnished; for a moralist may be as truly his slave as the man of debauched habits. So long as the heart is not occupied by his great foe, and he can use the man for his own purposes, the adversary of souls will let him reform as much as he pleases.” (Spurgeon)

"If we are filled with Jesus – being born again by the Spirit of God – then we cannot be empty and therefore inhabited by demons. “Though he shake his chain at us, he cannot fasten his fangs in us.” (Trapp)

This verse also shows us the proactity of demons.  They do not rest until they can find a place to practice their destructive ways.  Fortunately we have the promise that when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead; he will also bring a final judgment to Satan and his demons. They will be thrown in to a lake of fire for eternity.  2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10,14

45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

"Seven other spirits more wicked than himself.—The number seven, as in the case of Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2), represents a greater intensity of possession, showing itself in more violent paroxysms of frenzy, and with less hope of restoration." (Ellicot)

Again it is important to remember the context.  Jesus is using the illustration and comparing it to the rejection of the Jewish leaders and the consequences which will soon happen to the Jewish nation.  This was a warning but also a prophecy that was fulfilled. 

"Even so shall it be with this generations - This shows the scope and design of this illustration. The state of that man was a representation of that generation of people. Much might be done to cure their unbelief, much to reform them externally; but such was the firm hold which the principles of infidelity and wickedness had taken of their minds "as their proper habitation," that they would return, after all the means used to reform them, and they would be worse and worse. And this was literally accomplished. After all the instructions and miracles of the Saviour and his apostles; after all that had been done for them by holy people and prophets, and by the judgments and mercies of God; and after all their external temporary reformations - like the temporary departure of an evil spirit from a man possessed - yet such was their love of wickedness that the nation became worse and worse."  (Barnes)

Why do you think the Church today either dismisses the idea of demon possession altogether, or is reluctant to ever talk or teach about it, if we do believe it is real?  How might the reality of demon possession help explain some of the gross evil and immorality we see happening in our world?

Finally, remember we don't have to be afraid of the devil, though we need to respect his power.  We shouldn't handle these matters glibly, but at the same time be quick to use the spiritual weapons we have been given in Ephesians 6.  

"Greater is He (Jesus) that is in you, than he that is in the world!"  1 John 4:4